Shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday, a chemical reaction occurred in ITW’s research and development lab that created a potentially dangerous vapor cloud, Fire Chief Bill Wiegman of the Montgomery Township Fire Department said at the scene. “There was some off-gassing which we were concerned about,” said Wiegman, who did not name the chemical but stated that it was utilized in the processing of an epoxy made by the company.

The building was evacuated; more than two dozen employees milled about in a nearby parking lot as members of Montgomery County Hazmat Station 81 went into the building to do air and temperature checks. Ambulances from Volunteer Medical Service Corps stood by. Assisting was Wissahickon Fire Company with Ladder 7 to handle decontamination “in case anybody gets any product on them,” Wiegman explained.

By 3:30 p.m. the shelter-in-place emergency procedure was lifted. Wiegman said the chemical was contained within the building, that there was no public health risk and fire crews were providing ventilation and standing by “as the chemical continues to cease with all its by-products.”

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Wiegman said that ITW management was being “very helpful” in determining the type and amount of the chemical in question.